(From Mason-Woodard Mortuary)J.D. Johnson, 85, passed away at his home in Joplin, Missouri, on October 18, 2021. J.D. was born in Purdy, Missouri, to Virgil and Rosie (Childress) Johnson on November 13, 1935. He was lovingly raised by his mother, Rosie, and his stepfather, Lloyd Clayton.
He graduated from Purdy High School in 1954, where he played basketball and met his future wife, Helen (White). Helen and J.D. were married on August 18, 1956. At that time, J.D. was stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Southwest Germany, where he served in the U.S. Air Force for four years.
After he was honorably discharged, J.D., Helen, and their oldest daughter, Jeanie, moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where J.D. worked at DuPont and began his long career in auto sales at the Chevrolet dealership. In Lawrence, J.D. and Helen had two more daughters, Deborah and Leigh Ann. The family moved to Joplin in 1969, where J.D. continued his career in car sales and management.
J.D and Helen loved to travel. One of their favorite places to visit was Germany to see J.D.’s best friend, who was more like a brother, Guenther Heiderstaedt, and his wife Erika. In addition to travel, J.D. enjoyed fishing, working in his pasture, golfing, and watching the St. Louis Cardinals. Above all else, J.D. was a devoted grandfather to his nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. J.D. was always willing to play games with his grandchildren when they came over—and he never complained when they cheated. He also provided many of his grandchildren with their first driving experiences in his back pasture—whether it was the lawn mower, tractor, or his truck —and, there, he also taught them how to use a chainsaw, much to the dismay of their parents. J.D. enjoyed nothing more than attending his grandchildren’s concerts, softball games, football games, or swim meets, even when they became increasingly further away. J.D. was a member of Park Plaza Christian Church, where he served as an elder for many years.
J.D. is survived by his wife of 65 years, Helen; his daughters, Jeanie Brake and her husband Terry, Deborah Thompson, and Leigh Ann Replogle and her husband Ralph; three siblings, Janie, Linda, and Jerry; plus nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, with one more on the way.
The family will be holding a private graveside service. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Cookson Hills Children’s Home in care of the mortuary.
J.D and Helen loved to travel. One of their favorite places to visit was Germany to see J.D.’s best friend, who was more like a brother, Guenther Heiderstaedt, and his wife Erika. In addition to travel, J.D. enjoyed fishing, working in his pasture, golfing, and watching the St. Louis Cardinals. Above all else, J.D. was a devoted grandfather to his nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. J.D. was always willing to play games with his grandchildren when they came over—and he never complained when they cheated. He also provided many of his grandchildren with their first driving experiences in his back pasture—whether it was the lawn mower, tractor, or his truck —and, there, he also taught them how to use a chainsaw, much to the dismay of their parents. J.D. enjoyed nothing more than attending his grandchildren’s concerts, softball games, football games, or swim meets, even when they became increasingly further away. J.D. was a member of Park Plaza Christian Church, where he served as an elder for many years.
J.D. is survived by his wife of 65 years, Helen; his daughters, Jeanie Brake and her husband Terry, Deborah Thompson, and Leigh Ann Replogle and her husband Ralph; three siblings, Janie, Linda, and Jerry; plus nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, with one more on the way.
The family will be holding a private graveside service. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Cookson Hills Children’s Home in care of the mortuary.
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